Dear Councillors
You are about to make a decision which could change the character of Kingston forever, As a concerned resident I urge you to pay regard to the concerns raised by the non-partisan Kingston Residents‘Alliance, a groundswell of local opposition to the inappropriate over development of this small site. We are NOT NIMBYS, we support development of this site and welcome refurbishment of the two listed buildings, however we feel TOO MUCH is being asked of this site. Much is made of a ‘gateway’ building, but a gateway to what? New Croydon? Studies have shown that high rise buildings are not necessarily the best way of maximizing homes. Indeed the higher cost of building tall is only viable if the developer can sell off the penthouses at the top to wealthy foreign investors to sit empty as a kind of ‘property bank’
The historic market town of Kingston already has landmark buildings – the Guildhall, All Saints Church – the Market House - all built to a human scale. Real landmarks. We don’t need a massive development and tall tower to further destroy the town’s character and not only that to spoil the historic vistas from the ancient market, Home park and Richmond park to name a few,
St George make much of their ‘public realm’ square. In reality as they were forced to admit at the last meeting it would only receive direct sunlight for 2 hours a day on the 21st of June! The rest of the time it’s going to be a windswept unwelcoming north facing wasteland.
What of the council's commitment for affordable Housing of 50%? the developer’s provision of around 13% comes nowhere near this – but this has been decided by their ‘viability’ study. Has there been any independent verification of this viability?
Finally please take note of the opposition to the plans as they stand, from many concerned groups including Historic England, The Kingston Society and the Kingston Residents Alliance (the latter turning up in such numbers at the last meeting that many people couldn't get in)
Yours Sincerely
You are about to make a decision which could change the character of Kingston forever, As a concerned resident I urge you to pay regard to the concerns raised by the non-partisan Kingston Residents‘Alliance, a groundswell of local opposition to the inappropriate over development of this small site. We are NOT NIMBYS, we support development of this site and welcome refurbishment of the two listed buildings, however we feel TOO MUCH is being asked of this site. Much is made of a ‘gateway’ building, but a gateway to what? New Croydon? Studies have shown that high rise buildings are not necessarily the best way of maximizing homes. Indeed the higher cost of building tall is only viable if the developer can sell off the penthouses at the top to wealthy foreign investors to sit empty as a kind of ‘property bank’
The historic market town of Kingston already has landmark buildings – the Guildhall, All Saints Church – the Market House - all built to a human scale. Real landmarks. We don’t need a massive development and tall tower to further destroy the town’s character and not only that to spoil the historic vistas from the ancient market, Home park and Richmond park to name a few,
St George make much of their ‘public realm’ square. In reality as they were forced to admit at the last meeting it would only receive direct sunlight for 2 hours a day on the 21st of June! The rest of the time it’s going to be a windswept unwelcoming north facing wasteland.
What of the council's commitment for affordable Housing of 50%? the developer’s provision of around 13% comes nowhere near this – but this has been decided by their ‘viability’ study. Has there been any independent verification of this viability?
Finally please take note of the opposition to the plans as they stand, from many concerned groups including Historic England, The Kingston Society and the Kingston Residents Alliance (the latter turning up in such numbers at the last meeting that many people couldn't get in)
Yours Sincerely
